Big Tent?

We keep hearing that the Republican Party was once a big tent party and currently is not. The flip side to this point being made is that the Democrat party is. Really? There is logic in this point of view? Let us test this theory but first, let us do so without taking race, gender, and/or sexual orientation as qualifications for either party.

1) The general election was split essentially 52%/48%.
2) The base of the Democratic Party wanted/wants Sen. Lieberman completely removed from even its congressional caucus meetings simply for his stance on the Iraq war and for backing Sen. McCain.
3) The base of the Republican Party wanted Sen. Specter (among a few others -especially those saying the Reagan era is done) gone simply because he voted for the Recovery Act and he's too 'moderate'. (Have to remember Mr. Limbaugh's claim that there can be no moderate Republican's...)

Democrat
Exactly how many pro-life Democrats are there? Pro-NRA Democrats anyone? Supportive of the death penalty? Anti-Union Democrats anywhere? How about free trade Democrats? Against affirmative action? Anti-tax Democrats? Hmmm, seeing a trend here...

Republican
Anti-free trade Republicans? Pro-choice Republicans? Anti-NRA Republicans? Pro-Union Republicans? Okay with tax increases if they make sense Republicans? For affirmative action? Hmm, same trend...
Now obviously on one or two things, both parties have an extreme minority that don't follow the party line on every issue but those that don't aren't allowed in a position of power within the party and/or get ridiculed by those with the loudest voices in the media.

Maybe we can find things the two parties agree on?
Both enjoy spending. Both agree entitlement reform is desperately needed and beyond due. Oh wait, they don't agree on how best to reform entitlements so that's a wash. How about renewable energy? If an energy bill hits the floor without drilling and/or nuclear power Republican's block it and vice versa if an energy bill includes that. Kind of crazy that if Republican's really are for renewable energy (considering their mantra "all the above") they can't at least be content that even an energy bill without oil/nuclear finally creates some form of nation energy policy and that does help all United States citizens. Equally crazy is not allowing more oil but more specifically nuclear power if the Democrats are getting everything they want in renewable energy.

This could really go on for days but what is clear, one would hope, is that even when the two parties agree, they actually don't -hence why we've accomplished nothing significant in countless years now on the most important issues other than foreign policy of course. The other thing that should be clear, neither party has a big tent unless one defines a big tent party solely by diversity of people. The parties just have their platforms and someone either fits under it or they don't.


"In all things, one must consider the end." ~John Adams